Circulating apparatus for wood-pulp digesters



1930. w. J. MILLER TRAY FOR POTTERY FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed April11,

IN V EN TOR. mlll'am J/Yiller A TTORNEY aJ V 3 l W}. a a m a "w aPatented Dec. 9', 1930 i a 1,784,197

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ALBEBT G. NATWICK, OF ST. CATHARINES,ONTARIO, CANADA omcum'rme APPARATUS ron WOOD-PULP mensrans Applicationfiled March 17, 1928. Serial No. 262,489.

A My invention relates to improvements in up through the bottom end ofthe Venturi devices for reducing, cooking or digesting tube by suctioncaused by the steam issuing wood chips in a li uor solution, to pulp, inthe from the annular jet B. The jet B comprises paper making in ustry.The objects of my ahollow annular casing, providingthe central inventionare to promote more complete cirpassageway therethrough. In crosssection a culation of the chips and liquor inside the conthe walls arepolygonally arranged and protainer, digester or cooker, and to bringabout Vide an annular compartment 27. The steam a completely anduniformly cooked pulp, in pipe A connects in the outer wall 29 of thejet the shortest time, containing the greatest casing, so that the steamis fed into the annu- 10 amount of cellulose, to render the devicesimlar compartment 27 from whence it escapes a ple in construction, withthe several parts through upwardly inclined ducts 30 which are readilyaccessible for inspection or repair, and arranged in spaced verticalseries about the generally to adapt the digester to better perinner wallof the ct which defines the passageorm the, function required of it, way45. The said openings 30 converge u I5 I attain these objects by themechanisms wardly, so that their axes, extended to t 1e 5:

illustrated in the accompanying drawings. vanishing point, are arrangedin a conical for- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a mation. Thepurpose of this, is, of course, to vertical longitudinal section of adigester or provide a conical jet of steam, the apex of cooker whichcontains my improved circulatwhich is located at some point in the lower2 ing apparatus. part of the Venturi tube.

' igure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section The digester casing H is ofcourse verticalof the bottom cone of the digester showing in lysupported by means 35. The jet casing 13 I detail the lower details ofthe circulating ap is supported in the lower part of the invertedparatus conical portion 14, by means of downwardly Figure 3 is anenlarged sectional view showdivergent supporting legs 36, of anyapproved 75 a ing in detail the nozzle of the circulating apnumber,which engage-at 37 on the inside of paratus. the downwardly convergentwall 14 of the Similar letters of reference indicate like casing H, andat their upper ends are proparts in the drawing wherein H is thedigester Vided with right angled seats 38 for support-- casingconstructed after the best approved ing the jet B axially in the casingH in a hori- 90 methods, the material of which may vary. zontal plane.The casing H includes the cylindrical body The Venturi tube G includesupper and lowportion 10 having a dome-shaped top 11 proer tapered orhollow frusto-conical portions vided with an inlet opening 12. The lower50 and 51, having their smaller ends connected end of the casing H isprovided with a downat 52. The respective passageways 54 and 55 35 wardlconvergent tapered wall 14, the lower therethrough conform to thetapered shape of end 0% which is provided with a pulp outlet the saidportions. The portion 51 at its larger opening 15. This wall 14 is ofhollow conical end is flanged at 56 and is secured to the top Iformation, and the compartment of the casing wall of the annular jet B;the passageway 25 H is perfectly elongated from the opening 12 of thejet B axially aligning and opening into so to the opening 15. A is asteam pipe passing the lower end of the Venturi tube passageway throughthe digester casing by means of a the latter decreasing in size to theconsealing bushing, through which superheated stricted throat 52 of theVenturi tube. The steam under high pressure passes from steam upper tubeportion 50, of course, has the pasboiler not shown. The steam passesthrough sageway 54 thereof gradually enlarging upas steam pipe A to ahollow annular casing or wardly.

series steam jet B. C is a Venturi ipe The conveyor tube D is formedintegral, or

which at the top end, has formed therewith a is otherwise connected at60 to the upper end conveying pipe D, and is o n at the bottom of theVenturi tube, and has the passageway end. The contents of the digesterare drawn 61 aligning therewith, which is open at the upwe be a su 'tionto the contents of the digester. The size 'noti per end of the tube D;the latter terminating just short of the arcuated dome 11 and having itsupper endbraced by radial arms 63 which may be connected at 64.- to theinner surfaces of the side walls of the digester casing H. The action ofthe fluid in the Venturi tube, whether steam, or pulp, or any otherliquid, will be well understood. Since the bore of the tube from theannular et upwardly is constricted, the velocity of travel therethroughis of course inversely roportional to the area of the section at dierent points; the velocity increasing from the jet B to the throat 52,for the obvious purpose of providing an eiiective circulation. Thedischarge from the nozzles forms a suction cone on the bottom of thecirculating apparatus which draws'the contents of the digester into theVenturi tube. As the jets of the steam cone cross at the apex of thefirst cone, another cone is formed which becomes a pressure cone andwhich is travelling to the throat of the Venturi tube. A higher velocityis attained at the throat of theVenturi tube. The suction and pressurethus formed by the steam assisted by the Venturi tube carries thecontents of the digester into conveying pipe D at the top of which it isdischarged and then gravitates to the bottom of the digester when it isagain picked up by the suction forces of the suction nozzle at thebottom of the Venturi tube and the process is repeated. The flow throughthe apparatus is continuous as long as steam is allowed to enter thesteam ring or jet and positive circulation of the entire contents of thedigester is therefore effected.

The material used in the construction of the circulating apparatus maybe metal, and this is the case in the sulphate process of digesting woodchips to pulp, since it must of necessity be acid proof. In the sulphateor soda process, a material such as steel or iron or other material notattacked by alkali would be used. The ap aratus may vary in height butmust tl icient height to give complete circulaor diameter of the steamline A, Venturi tube and conveying pipe may vary but shall be suflicientto allow the jet B to draw into the Venturi tube and discharge throughpipe D a mixture of the entire contents.

It is understood that the several parts of the foregoing are intended tobe assembled and united according to the best process, althou h all thedetails of such construction are l lustrated or described. My inventionis not limited to the specific form of apparatus shown in the drawingsbut it is capable of variation in constructions and shape of its variousparts without detracting from its merits as a whole or departing fromthe scope of the invention.

I am aware that in the pulp producing digesters, liquor has beencirculated through the chips by pumps outside the digester and 9.

steam ejector inside the digester and that a. false perforated bottomkept the chips from entering the liquor line.

What I claim is:

1. In a wood pulp digester or cooker of wood pulp or other fibrousmaterials, the combination of a Venturi tube, and an annular hollowring-shaped jet discharging at an acute angle into the Venturi tube as ameans of increasing velocity and circulating material within thedigester or cooker.

2. In a wood pulp digester the combination of a casing, an upri htVenturi tube in the casing, and means or discharging a ringshaped fluidjet upwardly into the Venturi tube from the lower end thereof.

3. In a wood pulp digester the combination of a casing, an uprightVenturi tube in the casing, means for discharging a ring-shaped fluid etupwardly into the Venturi tube from the lower end thereof, and aconveyor pipe at the top of the Venturi tube for receiving circulatingmaterials in an upward flow from the Venturi tube.

4. In a device of the class described a container, an upright tube inthe container having a lower open end and an upper end open in thecontainer, and means for forcing a conical jet of circulatin fluidforcefully upwardly into the tube %I'0m the lower end thereof fordrawing materials from the container upwardly into the tube forcirculation.

5. In a device of the class described a container, an upright Venturitube in the container open at its upper and lower ends in the container,and means at the lower end of the Venturi tube and in the container fordischarging a conical shaped jet of circulating fluid upwardly into theVenturi tube.

6. In apparatus for treating pulp and the like the combination of atank, an upright tube in the tank having a passageway therethrough openat its upper and lower ends in the tank, and means for forcin a jet ofsteam.

in conical shaped formation into the lower end of the tube.

7. In apparatus for treating pulp and the like the combination of atank, an upright tube in the tank having a passageway there-- throughopen at its upper and lower ends in the tank, means for forcing a jet ofsteam in conical shaped formation into the lower end of the tube, saidtube having the passageway thereof into which the jet of steam is forcedgradually restricted upwardly from the base of the jet to the apex ofthe jet.

8. In apparatus for treating pulp and the like the combination of atank, an upright tube in the tank having a passageway therethrough openat its u per and lower ends in the tank, means for orcing a jet of steamin conical shaped formation into the lower end of the tube, said tubehaving the passageway thereof into which the jet of steam is chain linkplates and side members, res ectively, and

projecting into slot 27, to maintain the side members in alinement andrelieve the bolts 28'of weight stress and a strain. By loosen ing bolts28, the tray may be shortened or lengthened as desired, to adapt thetray to various widths of fabricating apparatus and conveyors as well asother uses.

Fi 3 shows the tray in plain form, the bottom being recessed to provideseats for the molds or other units, said seats being rendered adjustableas to height and size of opening by the bushings 24. In Fig. 5 a chuck Cis shown rising through the tray and elevating the mold therefrom forrotation during profiling or other operations where it may be desirableto elevate the mold from the tray.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate some of the advantages incident to the improvedtray, Fig. 6 showing in transverse section the hollow trunnion providedwith a roller by which the tray may be movably supported on a track 31.The trunnion also extends through a 32, indicating how the tray may bemounted in a conveyor above its center of gravity to thus always assumea horizontal position regardless of the direction of move ment of theconveyor. The outer end of the trunnion is shown as being concave, toreceive the convexed end of a plunger 33, resiliently mounted as byspring 33, said plunger forming part of a registering device generallyindicated at 34 and which is described in my copending applicationSerial No. 266,020, above noted, and whereby the tray may be definitelyspotted for introduction of a suitable fluid or other medium through thebore 8 of the trunnion to units that may be disposed on the tray, as forexample the partible molds indicated at 35, Fig. 4, and which are alsodescribed in my above-noted application. A further registering andspotting device generally indicated at 36 may be mounted adjacent thepath of travel of the trays, to spot the latter for applying a fluid orother medium to the tray units through the end members 6, which may bebored as indicated in dotted lines at 37 in Fig. 6 and plan view in Fig.4. In this instance the registering and spotting device may be mountedabove the path of travel of the trays and actuated in timed relation tothe progressive movement of said trays by cam or other means, not shownin the presentapplication, the tray trunnion being provided with anenlarged annular grooved portion '38 and the device 36 with acooperating fork or analogous member 36, adapted to straddle saidportion 38 and definitely position or locate the tray for application ofthe desired medium through the bore 37. The device 36 also preferablyincludes a tray-steadying member 36", adapted to descend ,into contactwith the sides of the tray and prevent swing ing movement of the trayduring a fabricating operation relatively to the units that may becarried thereby. The spring 33 in this instance is shown as of the leaftype, to conserve the tray and the means whereby the various units maybe made accessible for fabricating operations. The mold indicated at isadapted to be parted bymechanical means such as described in mycopending application Serial No. 266,020 above specified, the bore 8 ofthe trunnion providing a means whereby a toggle lever 39 may be actuatedfrom a pitman 40, which projects through said here and is actuated fromthe exterior of the tray, to open and close mold 35, while a suitablefluid medium may be. applied to said mold through bore 37 and conduits41 connnunicating with the interior portion of the mold. The referencenumeral .42 generally indicates a casting mold, shown mounted on a crossshaft 43, the latter being provided with gears 44 and 45 and havingbearing in pedestal brackets 46, which may be secured to, or form partof, the plate 22. The pitman is extended and provided with a rackextremity adapted to mesh with gear 44, so that when said pitman isactuated, the casting mold 42 will tilt, the degree of tilting beinglimited or regulated as by an adjustment bracket 47, which is adjustablysecured on shaft 43 as by screw 47 the one extremity of said bracketbeing provided with an adj ust-.

ment screw 47, adjustable relatively to plate 22. Gear is included toindicate that the mold 42 may be tilted by other means than that shown,and the shaft 43 may also be provided with a crank for manual actuation.

It will be seen that as the plates 22 are readily removable andreplaceable, any units that may be mounted thereon and have cooperatingparts secured thereto or formed as a part thereof are likewise removableand replaceable, and the facilities for adjustment of the tray parts,permit practically any arran ement of units on the tray that may beesired. I

What is claimed as new is:

1. A tray of the class specified, comprising, in combination, a frame,fabricating units disposed on said frame, the frame being so constructedas to provide seats for said units, the latter being accessible throughsaid seats.

2. A tray of the class specified, comprising, in combination, a framehaving side and end walls, fabricating units disposed on saidv frame,said units being accessible in a horizontal and vertical plane throughsaid tray.

3. A tray of the class specified, comprising a recessed bottom portionadapted to seat a plurality of fabricating units, and means fordetachably mounting said tray in a conveyor.

4. A tra of the class specified, comprising a recessed ottom adapted toseat fabricating units, and hollow trunnions for mounting said tray in aconveyor, access to the tray being permitted through said trunnions.

5. A tray of the class specified, comprising a frame adapted to supporta plurality of fabricating units, and means for adjusting said frame inaccordance with the number of units to be supported thereby.

6. A tray of the class specified, comprising a frame adapted to supporta plurality of fabricating units, and means for adjusting the componentparts of said frame to accommodate varying sizes of units.

7. In a tray of the class specified, a frame, means for seating molds onsaid frame, said means .being shiftable to vary the position of the moldseats on said frame.

8. A tray of the class specified, comprising an adjustable frame adaptedto support a plurality of fabricating units, the bottom of the traybeing of open construction to provide access to said units in asubstantially vertical plane from beneath the tray and means formounting said tray in a conveyor so as to always be maintained in ahorizontal plane.

9. A tray of the class specified, comprising a frame adapted to supporta plurality of fabricating units, and a means for varying the width ofsaid frame.

10. A tray of the class specified, comprising a frame adapted to supporta plurality of fabricating units, and a means for varying thelongitudinal extent of said frame.

11. A tray of the class specified, comprising, in combination, a frame,a plurality of fabricating units, said frame being open to comprisingside members, and a means for adjusting said members toward and from oneanother, the adjusting action being simultaneously applied to bothmembers.

15. In a tray of the class specified, a frame comprising side membersand interosed tray-mounting end members, and an adustable' meansconnecting said side members and said end members.

16. In a tray of the class specified, a.

frame comprising side members and interposed tray-mounting end members,and means for adjusting said side members, said means extending intosaid end members and having relative movement with said side member 17.In a tray of the class specified, a frame comprising side members andend members, and an adjustable connecting means, said end members beingformed with a threaded bore to receive said connecting means.

18. In a tra of the class specified, a frame comprising si e and endmembers, and means for adjustably connecting said members, said meanshaving a telescoping action in said end members.

19. In a tray of the class specified, a frame provided with a series ofperforations, and stud members adapted to be inserted in saidperforations to support fabricating units in spaced relation on saidtray.

20. In a tray of the class specified, a'channel-shaped frame providedwith a series of perforations, fabricating-unit-supporting membersextending transversely of and supported by said frame, and fasteningdevices for said members projecting into said perforations.

Signed by me this 10th day of A ril, 1928.

- WILLIAM J. LER.

provide seats for said units, and means for 14. In a tray of the classspecified, a frame I

